For Immediate Release
August 12, 2004

Iraq Defeats Portugal in Olympic Soccer Match
Special Edition Fact of the Day

Iraq's national soccer team beat Portugal by a 4-2 score today. This is Iraq's first Olympic appearance in 12 years, during which Saddam Hussein's son, Uday, was director of Iraq's Olympic committee and tortured the country's athletes. Portugal, considered a 2004 Olympic medal contender in men's soccer, lost to Iraq during preliminary competition. As Iraq is reintegrating into the international community with successes like this victory, the spirit and pride of the Iraqi people is also being restored.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of State and wire reports. For more information, see